There’s no science to coming up with a good comic idea, even though we’ve pushed the idea of a magical formula in the past. Inspiration can come from anywhere, and this week’s comic was inspired by my wife’s toothpaste tube of all things. When your toothpaste promises it will give you 25% stronger enamel, how can you refuse? Then I dug through our pantry and realized that this kind of on-product advertising was pretty common. I’m not talking about just health conscious advertising because everything advertises low calories, fat-free, no suger, etc. I’m talking about other benefits, like my cereal that says it improves attentiveness by 20%, or my Nesquik that says it helps build strong bones. For an RPG fan, those stat improvements are too much to resist!
Taking Tim’s idea about putting exciting labels on products led to the idea of creating a standardized labeling system on foods targeted towards kids. It would replace the boring “nutrition facts” on the back (no kid wants to look at that) and provide incentive as to why they would want to eat something. Think about it, kids will do the most boring thing over and over again in a video game just to let their character gain stats in a certain area, so why not apply the same logic to Spinach?
First Post!
I can never eat McDonalds again now. My agility needs to stay in tip-top shape
I looked at the first few panels and actually said out loud, “Oh that’s great…”
The is the first time I’ve actually said this…which is weird, but NCG! Great job!
Oh and I love the message on the candy bar. If the berserk status in Fire Emblem means anything, that that is the worst status possible. Hated that stupid spell.
Oh man, I remember that status. I always had to change my whole strategy if it happened to anyone. Better stay away from Crunch bars as well
I want to know where I can find Spinach brand Spinach and Healthy Cereal brand Cereal.
Well my defense is fine, but my attack is low.
Haha, awesome comic! I love it!
Haha same here. But the Soda ™ logo made me think of the Smash Bros. logo for some reason…
Wait, knowing Tim it should be a rip-off of Dr. Pepper.
Why a Pepsi rip-off?
Tim’s not the artist. XD I don’t know, maybe Pepsi is more recognizable…?
Haha same here. But the Soda ™ logo made me think of the Smash Bros. logo for some reason…Actually, I looked at it again and saw the faint semicircle…so apparently Raybob Industries makes Soda brand Soda! Sneaky…
I’ve always wanted to know what McDonalds actually does to my body. Now I know. 🙂
Sitting in front of a computer all day: -3 social skills, +4 nerdyness.
Does this mean I should be concerned about my social skill level?
Haha, if I didn’t know any better, I’d say that faux Pepsi logo was inspired by a certain game that promised to make the console wars turn into an all out brawl.
first good comic in a longgg time
Hey! I work at that only one Arch fast food restaurant! They have good things there too, The Salads there give you +4 Hip Soccer mom-ity while the new Cafe inspired coffees gives you +9 alertness for three turns (at the cost of twice the stamina of the Soda brand soda mind you)! On a related note, I need to buy more Candy brand Candy bars, I don’t know when that berzerker effect could come in handy… We should totally push the idea of a Start!+2p trading card game, we can sell it to schools and we can be rich and teach good eating habits also! Who’s with me?
2p or not 2p, that is the question….
Because Dr. Pepper is good for you! No, seriously, it’s like liquid vitamins! Disagree and you’ll get IP Banned!
OBJECTION!!!!!
I prefer Diet Dr. Pepper, it has less sugar and is thereby healthier.
Take that! 🙂
I like the explanation better. Dr. Pepper is much spiffier than Pepsi or Coke. Though I’m not a huge soda person in general.
Oh yea, how could I forget!
*goes into end-of-episode Sitcom laugh*
Dr. Pepper is amazing (and healthy now according to Tim). I drink so much of it when I’m back in the states, since you can’t get it in France.
‘tear’
Have you tried importing it? Another alternative is do they have a similar soda in France? I’d send you some but It probably get all shaken up on the way over 😉
There is one store where you can get a can (note that cans are smaller in Europe than the US) for about 1.50 euro (which is approximately $2.25). I get it when I need my fix, but its more of a commodity. And there is no French substitute. There are more flavors of Fanta though, if that counts for anything.
Great Comic! Thats why my agility sucks. Too much Big Nacs and Ncdonalds.
At first, I though that this comic was in response to this recent Wired article on Weight Watchers as an RPG.
I think it is an interesting concept in quantifying our diet in an understandable and motivating way. Food companies do so little to educate the consumer of what is and is not “healthy,” and in an era of deceptive portion sizes and vitamins killed off by processing, we need clearer nutrition education beyond the black and white block skillfully hidden on the side or bottom of a box.
Stephen Colbert recently had a guest on who discussed how branding and marketing is encouraging companies to divert away from what they’re selling and focusing on how they’re selling it. In the end, he suggests that this is preventing companies to strive towards innovation and improved products. Instead, they choose to release a bunch of crap that sends the message for you to buy more of their crap.
And I have to say, when you start to get too much crap in your room, you expand it to allow for more.
Your body does the same thing, so make sure you only put in just enough of the best so you don’t need to make room.
damn, now i’m thirsty!
Awesome idea, Tim. The nifty design adds to the awesomeness of it all, with the similarities to actual products and all. It’ll be great if it was real, though. I don’t get half of what’s written at the back of my cereal!
I hate soda in general, but Dr. Pepper is one of the worst I’ve tried. Glad you went with a Pepsi-like.
Shouldn’t have said that. XD
Wow. I checked 2P START! In the morning, and refreshed the page for about twenty minutes. (I have no life, only Tim and Ray.)
I had to go off to school for a bit, and I’m reading this just as I come back.
It was WELL worth the wait. This has to be, in all honesty, the single comic I have laughed at the most in all the 5000+ comics of the eighteen web-comics I read (actual figure, not an approximation.)
Though webcomics don’t have to be funny, (I read quite a few that aren’t.) it’s always a good plus. As the local slang goes, nice comic, guys!
But that’s terribly true. I spent hours just going through the inventory screen on Final Fantasy Tactics, looking for weapon powers I hadn’t mastered yet, even if I wasn’t going to use them, and you’ve captured that beautifully.
Though the graphics – as some would say – are lacking for this comic, I can’t imagine it any different. If they were more complicated, I feel it wouldn’t have the same message, and I think this was an amazing comic for 2P Start.
As some have said, I seem to be easily amused. Therefore, ignore above paragraph.
Well, that’ll assure your the “Comment of the Week” title
FCG (F is for fabulous!)
I thought this comic was brilliantly done, although the concept in general may not necessarily be original (e.g. The World Ends With You). Nevertheless, I really enjoy the colorful style, especially the 2PStart! Logos. Keep up the great work, guys!
Also, Tacos has the best icon ever.
Hey! I was going to say that! XD It’s fine if that’s comment of the week, at least it’s not exactly the same as the others from past weeks. This comic, along with the Mario Kart comic are up there with my favorite comics.
Uh-oh djDysentery has countered with another suck-up.
But is it powerful enough to win?
Thank you, djDysentery.
And this was one of my favorites, but I think “This is How I Roll” or Q-Bert and Birdo are tied for my favorite.
And at least Strawberry-Chan isn’t saying that he’s a long time lurker who has risen from his grave yadda yadda yadda (no offense Ray)
Awesome. Me and some friends have made these jokes for years, but it’s great to see them used for health food. XB
It’s time for another round of incredibly obvious things that I miss!
First, Ray’s signature has his logo in it.
Second, the iPhone podcast image was from this comic!
Umm…actually, I kinda did too…sorry. XD
Great comic guys. After seeing the new icons in action, I have to say that I like them. Keep up the good work!
I actually didnt think this was that funny…but thats cus I saw a similar joke somewhere on a hat or something, lol
BTW thanks for comment of the week 🙂
*cough* River City Rampage *cough*
…the smiles are free.
EPIC LOL!
also, NCG! what would Taco Bell be? -2 Max belly size?
I eat 6 tacos whenever i go there. no joke.
This is hilarious keep up the good work!
Remember Both Tim and Ray can pick comments so there is a 2 chances to be picked…
I wonder what a can of beans would rate? Maybe this rhyme can answer it!
“Beans, beans, they’re good for your heart, the more you eat, the more you …. you get the idea”
(+50 Toot-itude! It is a natural repel for enemies! They cower from your stench!)
It really doesn’t matter, cause everyone knows that Mr. Pibb/Pibb Xtra is waaaaaay better than Dr.Pep[/user banned]thats actually a really good idea, guys! keep em comin. btw please use me as a suggestion box! im begging u!!!!!!!!
This is the best idea ever. I wish the FDA would adopt it.
Great work this week guys!
-Ish
From now on RedVinnie777 is a suggestion box. Don’t know why that’s good but nevermind.
Nice, since the government is starting to define more and more closely what has to appear on the label this could actually happen.
The biggest problem would come from min-maxers. People who want a really high strength but don’t care about their charisma scores so live entirely on a diet of protein shakes and cheap cider. Actually, I suppose fraternities do that already.
Also I think raid groups at a supermarket looking for the uber-leet drops might get tiresome after a while. Leeroy Jenkins agroing all the old ladies at the dairy counter is the last think you need when you’re looking for +5 toughness milk.
I think that realistically it should be limited to only the most harmful of products. I recommend that they drop the surgeon general’s warning off cigarettes and go with something a little more Final Fantasy:
Malboro – Has High Chance of Causing Bad Breath (You may become aflicted with many status ailments).
Just in case you haven’t encountered one
Maybe it’s another way of telling Ray where he can stick his suggestions…
haha. great cartoon.
Oh by the way, are you guys new here? (those who don’t have a gravatar)
Are you trying to get them comment of the week? 😛
As for me, I haven’t gotten around to making an avatar because of work and laziness.
I was just thinking this would be a great form of street art to get people’s attentions. I would love to wander into a supermarket and put stickers all over products that said things like +6 attack or -4 Defense.
Aww! I love this one!
They should make these the real thing!
That was priceless, although I think the first one should be agility -9 + acne + over 9000
ITS OVER NINE THOUSAND!!!!
WATCH IT! YOU ARE GOING TO DESTROY THE WHOLE PLANET! FATHER!!!!
ummmm…. *insert any other DragonBall Z meme here*
Haha, well done, more of these please
Jeez those foods would totally ruin my mage’s stats, wheres my mana boosting strawberries!?!?
Hey was is Banana pudding????
hey that reminds me of that drink squire enix made anyways i liked the comic but you didn’t choose my idea about the ds and the lite XD
THE BALLS ARE INERT!
This has nothing to do with the comic…
but Anon, I just gotta ask. Why the heck do you keep changing your avatar? I recogize one, then you change it. I don’t get it.
And personally, I liked the smiley-face one better, anyway.
I do the same thing…I just interchange the Metroids though…
Oh and the new logos have grown on me.
You have a point Tim..
With the increase of health labels on commercial products and the boom in the gaming industry, I wouldn’t be surprised if this does become a reality.
Love the comic guys!
Podcast tomorrow!
This brings up a seroius issue I encounter now:
When the podcast comes out, I’m at school. So I can’t listen to it until i get home, which is around 4:30. (West Coast) So if Triva for You comes back, I don’t really stand a chance of winning, because if there’s one I know, I’ll be beaten to it for sure!
=(
Please note, I’m easily entertained. I still find Control Alt Delete funny, even though a lot of people I know have stopped reading it or complain about it on a regular basis (Thank god for iChat! How else could I get my daily dose of opinions in heavy-metal-poisoning form?)
I still have 2P START near the top of my list, however, and I really don’t have much other place to dump all this glowing praise for this comic.
(Questionable Content is above 2P on said list, however, for the sole reason of it’s 5-updates-a-week.)
So… My word shouldn’t be taken seriously at all. I’m pretty much ranting at a wall here.
So, what are your feelings about waffles?
…Why do you never talk to me, wall?
Um, ok….. wtf?
lol, if you really need to pee, just go to the bathroom!
sorry about the double post, but nobody commented after i did… and its been a full 24 hours! i just couldnt wait for someone else any longer, i had this joke in my head!
I’m pretty much ranting at a wall here.
So, what are your feelings about waffles?
…Why do you never talk to me, wall?
~~~
Wall: No I really don’t like waffles, but the floors always raving about them.
Floor: Waffles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Me and my husband have 9 children between us and this idea is GREAT!!!!
Our boys are all over 18 now but they would have loved this idea growing up. It would be awesome if products could come like this!
Heh, pretty clever. If only the power ups were real 🙂
Absolutely wonderful idea. Oh how I would love to buy packages like these for my kids.
hahaha this is great xD
i think i´m getting a defense+3 bonus right now
Well food seemed to serve this purpose in Golden Sun.
Apple = Increase Attack
Power Bread = Increase HP (I know it’s POWER bread but power = HP? I think not)
And so on.
But then, would you eat straight pepper, even if it DID make you luckier for the rest of your life?
….Said like that, I would too.
If only solving childhood obesity was as simple as that! I mean, that’d be so ****ing great, having the food you put in your mouth have such precise results, exactly the same for everyone, to boot!
Wonderful thing to have children believe!
Wait…
Awesome!!!! 🙂 hahahaha Playing those games myself…. o_O
Wheres my intellect, mana, or even critical damage bonus?! Haha
-10% run speed, +1 sec cast time for that MD one…. LOL
dudes, you should totally sell stickers like these! It would be an epic win!I mean, how much fun would it be to slip some stickers like that in the grocery store while you are shopping? Yah. I would so totally buy some off them. My crazy twin sister would too! ^_^
My stamina must be at -9001 then.
This is a great idea! Wonder why this didn’t catch on… Oh, wait…